I am in zone 6b. I planted in containers and thought I would overwinter where they were. After a thaw went to see what I had and they were mushy didn't get a single edible potato. Yet last year 2021 I missed a few and got about 10 lbs. out of my raised bed. Do you have any suggestions?
When I harvest spring potatoes late July, I amend the bed and replant seed potatoes I saved right away. I get another harvest around November 1st. I either do the Ruth stout method with hay. Or I just dig a small hole for each potato, not a trench. That’s too much work
Question. You said harvest would be when the top green dies back or they bloom? Why would you pull when they bloom? Most plants that grow and then bloom, think iris/daffodils etc the worst time to pull would be bloom or right after as the dying bloom/foliage is putting energy back into the plant so you wouldn't pull until after bloom and foliage die back. Please clarify. Thank you so much.
I ask because in my first experiment with potatoes last year I didn't pull until after flower and then flower/foliage die back. My store bought potato experiment seemed fine. So would my harvest been bigger had I pulled when they bloomed? Thanks again🌷
The only time I've planted potatoes has been in containers when I've had some in my kitchen go green or sprout. The pots already had soil in them, so I buried them about wrist deep, then mulched. I was amazed how well they did, and how many I got from a 20" container. It really is like a treasure hunt! Btw, I totally dig the no-dig method. I've been trying it in all my containers this season and it's been working really well. Thanks for the tip!
This was my first time growing potatoes and I planted them in the fall in raised beds and in fabric containers. I don’t know how they are doing under ground; however, above ground I have a lot of greenery!
I did chit them and I bought them from Publix grocery store.
I grow my potatoes in a container. I use a halved (width wise), 55 gallon plastic barrel. I, too, drilled a ton of drainage holes. Before I put my mixture of finished compost and potting soil in, I place a full-size burlap bag in the bottom. Bag is saturated to make it easier to mold to the bottom. The soil mixture is 6 – 8 inches deep, and space the starters 8 – 10 inches and cover with the soil mixture at least 4 inches. I wet the bottom soil before putting in the starters. An average yield per container 10lbs.
I planted store bought potatoes and they grew very well. Only thing I noticed that the red ones I planted were very sweet. Anyone know why this would happen?
I tried potatoes in planting pots last fall. About the size of the pot you had to hold your potting soil. 3 organic potatoes from the store each in three pots. I really did not give them the attention they needed. Yield was much better than it should have been, about 5-6 potatoes per plant. I loved harvesting them! I dumped the pots out on a tarp, and had no trouble finding the potatoes!
Being in Australia, I'm happy to hear I can plant more potatoes now! I just harvested my previous batch, and only got a few potatoes from three huge pots, which was pretty disappointing. The previous time using the same method (like your container method, hilling up as they grew) it worked fine. Not sure why the last batch didn't go as well, but keen to have another go.
Wear gloves always in the South because of hook worms in the soil. Ask your University Extension office about this in USA Southern states also the web site for home gardening the recommended plants variety will be listed for vegtables, fruit trees and small fruits, strawberries, blackberries, boysenberries, raspberries, grapes. If using Animal manures get a new tetanus shot but still wear gloves. 🤗 He should have sprayed Neem tree extract over potatoes leaves between the rains. It is fungicide, insecticide kills soft bodied insects and their eggs. It is ORMI listed for organic gardening both for edible and ornamental plants. Read the label for plants you should NOT spray it on. It is oiled based so during warm weather spray early morning or late evening to prevent leaf burn. This goes for any oil based spray. Retired Horticulturist me since 2012. If your state Extension office has the Master Gardening Program ask to get a name and phone number of a Master Gardner. Before I attended Utah State University the County Extension agent was a financial degree so instead I bought all the pamphlets they had on fruit trees, small fruits, vegetables gardening, insects, diseases(usually in pamphlets) composting. Bought Rodale Publishing book Organic Gardening Encyclopedia and subscription to Organic Gardening magazine. My Grandmother took a evening nutrition class back in 1920s learned about using olive oil, cooking in stainless steel and cast iron fry pans. The aluminum pans leach aluminum into the acidic foods such as tomatoes when cooking and when food sits in the pan. She learned about doing yoga too. Before I got my 2 year Ornamental Horticulture certificate 1984, the B. S. In Horticulture 1995 I had a million questions and worried about all my plants so I understand how all gardners feel. Do download on your Andriod phone Google Lens app it is free in the play store on your phone. Take screen shot or photo of the leaf damage, insect on your plants to identity what insect might caused the damage. Lens does not always get it right. But send photo to your Extension agent office email put in your return email. Explain what plant this is in photo. Also remember to go out at night with a flashlight to see any night time insect pest and slugs, snails, earwigs, black weevils have a narrow snout that notches the leaf edges. Put used coffee grounds or black tea around the base of the plant the caffeine messes up the larvae chewing on the roots. Happy gardening during Summer time wear wide straw hat drink at least a pint of water before you go outside to garden keep water with you at least 2 liters, handkerchief to wipe the salty sweat off forehead. Sweat in your eyes burns. Learned this Summer 1989 mowing lawns for a landscaping business. 🥰🤗 3-8-2023.🌹🍇🌺🌷🌻🌳🌲🍓🍒🍎🍉🍑🍈🫐🍅🌶️🥕🍠🧅🌽🥦🥒🥬🫑🍆🧄🥔
I use the container method in a slightly different way. I use old 10 gal plant buckets with a gravel layer for drainage. Put in a layer of soil, add potatoes and cover with a bit of soil. In about a week the plants will peek its head through the soil. I then cover the plant with a couple inches more of soil. I repeat this process until my 10 gal bucket is full.
When I’m ready to harvest I simply dump the container into my wheelbarrow….you get potatoes the entire depth of the container.
Here in middle Tennessee,,me and my family have been GROWING POTATOES FOR 45 YEARS OR MORE,,WE GET A 50 LB BAG OF POTATOES,,CUT AS MANY EYES OF THE POTATO OFF AND PLANT JUST THE EYE,,PLACE THEM IN THE GROUND WITH THE EYE UP,, AND EACH ONE WILL GROW A PLANT,, WITH THIS METHOD YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A TON OF POTATOES,, USUALLY ONE POTATO WILL GROW AT LEAST FIVE PLANTS( DEPENDS (NOT THE UNDERWEAR) ON HOW MANY EYES ARE ON THE POTATO) BEEN DOING IT THE SAME TRIED AND TRUE WAY,, AND USUALLY GET( OUT OF 2-3 ROWS APPROX 60-75FT LONG) AROUND 35-40 BUSHELS!!
Great info. I have a question. I was wondering if potatoes can "chit" too much, meaning, the new growth that came out are very long. Some of mine are about 6" and it's still too early to plant. Is there a time where it will be TOO long or will that be ok? Thanks
I know you say the green potatoes are good. They are poisonous. How come when I buy potatoes some have green on them. Happens all the time. I normally cut the green off and still cook my potatoes without any issues.
I'm so impressed with the fall planted potatoes and I'm going to do some like that this year! I have done no dig, containers, and traditional. No dig did best but I covered with compost instead of straw because I always get straw growth when I use it., The containers did worst. They were just too small for me; I like big bakers but would be ok planting fingerlings or earlies.
Brian – I just recently learned that potatoes can be either determinate or indeterminate, with determinate growing just one layer of potatoes over the seed potato (so you don't hill them as much, and indeterminate being able to grow multiple layers (so you can hill them up more and get more potatoes). Have you experimented with that?
As usual, great information Brian. I noticed that you use the whole potato for the seed. I have always been taught to cut the potato with at least one eye in each piece and then plant which extends the amount bof certified seed that I buy. Both ways have worked for me, however just thought I would mention it so readers may have a way to use more seeds with less potatoes. Again, great work!!! Keep it up.
Thank you for information. Can you use dried leaf or grass clippings instead of straw for the Ruth Strout method?
I am in zone 6b. I planted in containers and thought I would overwinter where they were. After a thaw went to see what I had and they were mushy didn't get a single edible potato. Yet last year 2021 I missed a few and got about 10 lbs. out of my raised bed. Do you have any suggestions?
When I harvest spring potatoes late July, I amend the bed and replant seed potatoes I saved right away. I get another harvest around November 1st. I either do the Ruth stout method with hay. Or I just dig a small hole for each potato, not a trench. That’s too much work
I've used the "piling" method in containers. Pile more dirt as the grow up to get spuds at each level. Works great for small buckets.
Thank you!:) I didn't know about the spacing and the size of the potatoes. It sounds opposite of what I thought:)
Have you ever tried growing potatoes in straw bales. I get 3 plants per bale with good yield. Bales last two years then I turn them into mulch.
Where do I find the link to the fertilizer? thanks
Dandelion is an extreme healing weed.
Question. You said harvest would be when the top green dies back or they bloom? Why would you pull when they bloom? Most plants that grow and then bloom, think iris/daffodils etc the worst time to pull would be bloom or right after as the dying bloom/foliage is putting energy back into the plant so you wouldn't pull until after bloom and foliage die back. Please clarify. Thank you so much.
I ask because in my first experiment with potatoes last year I didn't pull until after flower and then flower/foliage die back. My store bought potato experiment seemed fine. So would my harvest been bigger had I pulled when they bloomed? Thanks again🌷
The only time I've planted potatoes has been in containers when I've had some in my kitchen go green or sprout. The pots already had soil in them, so I buried them about wrist deep, then mulched. I was amazed how well they did, and how many I got from a 20" container. It really is like a treasure hunt!
Btw, I totally dig the no-dig method. I've been trying it in all my containers this season and it's been working really well. Thanks for the tip!
This was my first time growing potatoes and I planted them in the fall in raised beds and in fabric containers. I don’t know how they are doing under ground; however, above ground I have a lot of greenery!
I did chit them and I bought them from Publix grocery store.
I bought an old paperback book by RuthStout in 1986. Been gardening with it ever since ❤
I’m planting my first potatoes this spring. 😄
Great ideas
I have always planted in containers.. I have a very small garden area. I really like the No Dig.
When I see buds starting, I will pluck them… I 'll do this at least twice.
I found by doing this, I get more spuds.
I grow my potatoes in a container. I use a halved (width wise), 55 gallon plastic barrel.
I, too, drilled a ton of drainage holes. Before I put my mixture of finished compost and potting soil in, I place a full-size burlap bag in the bottom. Bag is saturated to make it easier to mold to the bottom.
The soil mixture is 6 – 8 inches deep, and space the starters 8 – 10 inches and cover with the soil mixture at least 4 inches.
I wet the bottom soil before putting in the starters.
An average yield per container 10lbs.
Hello 👋 I’m planting in containers for the first time ever. Then I put leaves on top. I’m in the woods. Did I do wrong 😢
What is the discount code for the neptune’s harvest?
I planted store bought potatoes and they grew very well. Only thing I noticed that the red ones I planted were very sweet. Anyone know why this would happen?
Good vlog 👍
I tried potatoes in planting pots last fall. About the size of the pot you had to hold your potting soil. 3 organic potatoes from the store each in three pots. I really did not give them the attention they needed. Yield was much better than it should have been, about 5-6 potatoes per plant. I loved harvesting them! I dumped the pots out on a tarp, and had no trouble finding the potatoes!
Being in Australia, I'm happy to hear I can plant more potatoes now! I just harvested my previous batch, and only got a few potatoes from three huge pots, which was pretty disappointing. The previous time using the same method (like your container method, hilling up as they grew) it worked fine. Not sure why the last batch didn't go as well, but keen to have another go.
Wear gloves always in the South because of hook worms in the soil. Ask your University Extension office about this in USA Southern states also the web site for home gardening the recommended plants variety will be listed for vegtables, fruit trees and small fruits, strawberries, blackberries, boysenberries, raspberries, grapes. If using Animal manures get a new tetanus shot but still wear gloves. 🤗 He should have sprayed Neem tree extract over potatoes leaves between the rains. It is fungicide, insecticide kills soft bodied insects and their eggs. It is ORMI listed for organic gardening both for edible and ornamental plants. Read the label for plants you should NOT spray it on. It is oiled based so during warm weather spray early morning or late evening to prevent leaf burn. This goes for any oil based spray. Retired Horticulturist me since 2012. If your state Extension office has the Master Gardening Program ask to get a name and phone number of a Master Gardner. Before I attended Utah State University the County Extension agent was a financial degree so instead I bought all the pamphlets they had on fruit trees, small fruits, vegetables gardening, insects, diseases(usually in pamphlets) composting. Bought Rodale Publishing book Organic Gardening Encyclopedia and subscription to Organic Gardening magazine. My Grandmother took a evening nutrition class back in 1920s learned about using olive oil, cooking in stainless steel and cast iron fry pans. The aluminum pans leach aluminum into the acidic foods such as tomatoes when cooking and when food sits in the pan. She learned about doing yoga too. Before I got my 2 year Ornamental Horticulture certificate 1984, the B. S. In Horticulture 1995 I had a million questions and worried about all my plants so I understand how all gardners feel. Do download on your Andriod phone Google Lens app it is free in the play store on your phone. Take screen shot or photo of the leaf damage, insect on your plants to identity what insect might caused the damage. Lens does not always get it right. But send photo to your Extension agent office email put in your return email. Explain what plant this is in photo. Also remember to go out at night with a flashlight to see any night time insect pest and slugs, snails, earwigs, black weevils have a narrow snout that notches the leaf edges. Put used coffee grounds or black tea around the base of the plant the caffeine messes up the larvae chewing on the roots. Happy gardening during Summer time wear wide straw hat drink at least a pint of water before you go outside to garden keep water with you at least 2 liters, handkerchief to wipe the salty sweat off forehead. Sweat in your eyes burns. Learned this Summer 1989 mowing lawns for a landscaping business. 🥰🤗 3-8-2023.🌹🍇🌺🌷🌻🌳🌲🍓🍒🍎🍉🍑🍈🫐🍅🌶️🥕🍠🧅🌽🥦🥒🥬🫑🍆🧄🥔
I use the container method in a slightly different way. I use old 10 gal plant buckets with a gravel layer for drainage. Put in a layer of soil, add potatoes and cover with a bit of soil. In about a week the plants will peek its head through the soil. I then cover the plant with a couple inches more of soil. I repeat this process until my 10 gal bucket is full.
When I’m ready to harvest I simply dump the container into my wheelbarrow….you get potatoes the entire depth of the container.
I could seriously watch potato harvests all day, every day. It is SO satisfying!
Here in middle Tennessee,,me and my family have been GROWING POTATOES FOR 45 YEARS OR MORE,,WE GET A 50 LB BAG OF POTATOES,,CUT AS MANY EYES OF THE POTATO OFF AND PLANT JUST THE EYE,,PLACE THEM IN THE GROUND WITH THE EYE UP,, AND EACH ONE WILL GROW A PLANT,, WITH THIS METHOD YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A TON OF POTATOES,, USUALLY ONE POTATO WILL GROW AT LEAST FIVE PLANTS( DEPENDS (NOT THE UNDERWEAR) ON HOW MANY EYES ARE ON THE POTATO) BEEN DOING IT THE SAME TRIED AND TRUE WAY,, AND USUALLY GET( OUT OF 2-3 ROWS APPROX 60-75FT LONG) AROUND 35-40 BUSHELS!!
Great info. I have a question. I was wondering if potatoes can "chit" too much, meaning, the new growth that came out are very long. Some of mine are about 6" and it's still too early to plant. Is there a time where it will be TOO long or will that be ok? Thanks
What about fertilizer while growing?
I know you say the green potatoes are good. They are poisonous. How come when I buy potatoes some have green on them. Happens all the time. I normally cut the green off and still cook my potatoes without any issues.
I planted last Fall (zone 6b) and they are starting to come up already.
Planted my slips of potatoes, but now they are rotting and have tiny white worms. What is going on? Any suggestions?
I'm so impressed with the fall planted potatoes and I'm going to do some like that this year!
I have done no dig, containers, and traditional. No dig did best but I covered with compost instead of straw because I always get straw growth when I use it., The containers did worst. They were just too small for me; I like big bakers but would be ok planting fingerlings or earlies.
It was fun watching you find your potato treasures underground. 😁
Brian – I just recently learned that potatoes can be either determinate or indeterminate, with determinate growing just one layer of potatoes over the seed potato (so you don't hill them as much, and indeterminate being able to grow multiple layers (so you can hill them up more and get more potatoes). Have you experimented with that?
4:30 Very briefly, what were those greens you chopped and dropped? Looked like rhubarb up on the pile.
Does it have to be strong or can it be any organic mulch
As usual, great information Brian. I noticed that you use the whole potato for the seed. I have always been taught to cut the potato with at least one eye in each piece and then plant which extends the amount bof certified seed that I buy. Both ways have worked for me, however just thought I would mention it so readers may have a way to use more seeds with less potatoes.
Again, great work!!! Keep it up.